Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

“I’ll do it when I get home,” I told her, my eyes eating up the sight of her. “I’m sorry you had to bail me out.”

“I just made a few phone calls. Aunt Emmie is pissed at you, by the way. Please, just smooth things over with her.” She touched my arm, her blue eyes pleading up at me. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I’m stubborn and I’ve made you miserable. I’m sorry you hurt right now and your mind isn’t clear like it should be. I’m even sorry I ran off and didn’t tell you where I was. I know…I know I’ve fucked with your head, and I’m partially at fault for all this mess. But you have to calm down. You can’t go around getting into fights, Jace. I love you, but you have to chill out, or you are going to ruin your life.”

I covered her hand, my fingers skimming over her wrist. “Without you in my life, it’s already ruined. None of this is your fault, baby. Not one single thing. This is all on me. I caused all this pain. All the bullshit that is clouding my head right now is on me.” I cupped her elbow, pulled her closer, and hugged her. I breathed in deeply, savoring the scent of her shampoo in my nose. “I love you, Kin.”

She melted against me. “I love you too,” she whispered.

“Jace!” Lifting my head, I found Kassa storming into the police station, and she was pissed. “What the fuck? Gray and I were on our way to Vegas for the weekend, and Kin called to tell me you were arrested?”

Kin pulled back and turned to face my sister and Gray as they crossed the mostly deserted lobby. “You didn’t have to come back,” Kin assured my sister. “I got it sorted out with Alicia’s help.”

“Why didn’t Emmie help?” Gray asked, brows lifted.

“I ran my mouth,” I muttered. “She’s pissed at me now.”

“Do you have a death wish?” he yelled at me. “You don’t piss off the fire-breather for any reason. Ever.”

“Thanks for helping, Kin. I’m sure it wasn’t easy and my brother has probably eaten up the last of your sanity and patience.” Kassa grabbed my forearm. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him out of trouble from now on.”

Kin gave her a tight smile. “It’s okay. I was happy to help. It was my fault anyway.” She lifted her purse strap over her shoulder. “But I do need to go. I have some work to do before I get into the studio next week.”

“So you made up your mind?” Gray asked her before I could. “You’re signing with Petrova?”

She nodded. “Looks like it. And it also looks like you’ll have company for the winter tour. Think you can put up with me?”

Gray snorted, but I could tell he was happy for her. “You need a guitarist until you get a band?”

She patted him on the arm. “Aunt Emmie is getting me sorted, but thanks anyway.”

“Kin,” I reached for her just as my phone rang. I groaned, knowing exactly who it was.

“Talk to Alicia,” she urged. “I’ll…see you around.”

Blowing out a long sigh, I nodded and pulled out my phone, answering it as I watched her walk away.

“Jace?” Alicia’s voice filled my ear. “I want you to come home. Now!”

“Yeah,” I told her as Kin glanced back at me over her shoulder. “I’ll be there as soon as I get a flight out.”

“Just you,” she said, sounding tired. “We…We really need to talk, honey.”

Chapter 22

Kin

One month later

The wind bit at my cheeks as I walked past the line of limos and got into my rental. As I started the car, my gaze caught the view, and I had to pause to take in the beauty of the mountains in the distance framed by the kaleidoscope of brown, yellow, red, and orange leaves on the trees.

Today had been harder than I expected. Watching the pain on Cash’s face as he laid his grandmother to rest brought back memories of my mom’s funeral. My gaze turned, and I could almost see Mom’s headstone. My fingers trembled, and I wrapped them around the wheel tightly to keep them steady.

After I got into town the evening before, I went straight to Mom’s grave with flowers, knowing there wouldn’t be time today. The last time I was home, I didn’t get the chance to visit her, and I just wanted time to talk to her on my own before the craziness of the media took hold of everyone for Doris Mathias’s funeral.

My passenger door opening had me gasping with surprise. Putting a hand to my chest, I expected to see Angie sitting in the seat beside me, but I was surprised to find Jace there. I’d been so lost in thoughts about my mom, I’d completely zoned him and everything else out today.

“Hey!” I punched him in the arm. “Warn a person before you just jump in their car, dickhead.”

He rubbed at the tender spot where I’d hit him. “Jesus, baby. That fucking hurts.” He groaned and leaned back in the seat, pulling on his seat belt. “You headed for the airport?”